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Integrating Geography Information System in Teaching Geography in Malaysian Secondary Smart Schools

Received: 11 June 2013    Accepted:     Published: 10 July 2013
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Abstract

In 1996, Malaysia initiated a plan to make the country the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub of the region. To facilitate this, the government established the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) plan; this initiative is based on a belief that there will be growing demand for a computer-literate work force, as well as for professionals in ICT. As part of this initiative, the Malaysian Government also established the Smart School System in 1999. The Smart School Programme emphasises the use of technology tools as an important aid in learning and teaching: computers are the main instruction (teaching) tool. Significantly, the integration of ICT in teaching has given greater priority to Science, Mathematics, and English. Therefore, Geography has become what students perceive as a ‘dry’ subject with little use of technology. Unlike in Malaysia, in developed countriesGeography receives more attention and has become a key subject at both the primary and secondary level; as a result, Geographic Information Systems(GIS)are widely accepted and integrated intothe secondary and primary schoolGeography curriculum. However, the integration of GIS in Geography education in Malaysia is still regarded as a myth,for reasons of lack of ability, human resources, ground facilities, and ICT provision. Thus, this article will discuss the potential to integrate GIS in a Malaysian Secondary Smart School, which is well known for being the most sophisticated and well-equipped with ICT in the country. A content analysis was performed based on articles from local and foreign pub-lications regarding the integration of GIS in Geography teaching. The content analyses, which include articles, theses and conference papers, discuss the opportunities to integrate GIS in teaching Geography. The analysis showsthat Secondary Smart Schools in Malaysia have adequate ICT facilities and well-trained human resourcesfor GIS. Thus, a plan for integrating GIS in Geography education is not a myth and will become a reality if the Malaysia Ministry of Education is ready to implement it.

DOI 10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17
Published in Education Journal (Volume 2, Issue 4, July 2013)
Page(s) 149-154
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Geographic Information System (GIS), Secondary Smart School, Geography Curriculum

References
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[2] Abdul Hamid Abdullah, Mohmadisa, Mohd Faris Dzianuddin, & Muhamad Suhaily. (2006). Using GIS as teaching tool in geography education. In A. H. Abdullah (Eds.), Geographic education issues in Malaysia. Tanjung Malim: UPSI Publisher.
[3] Bednarz, S. W. (2004). Geographic information systems: A tool to support geography and environmental education? GeoJournal, 60 (2), 191-199
[4] Korevaar, W. v. d. S., J. (2004). Modern aardrijkskundeonderwijs met GIS op de kaartgezet [Modern geography education using GIS has been put on the map],. Geografie[Geography], 13 (9), 44-46.
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[11] Malaysia Ministry of Education. (2006). User acceptance and effectiveness of the Smart School integrated solution. Kuala Lumpur: Educational Technology Division.
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[15] Azizah Ya’acob & Hanita Azman.(2005). Implementation of the Malaysian Smart School: An Investigation of Teaching-Learning Practices and Teacher-Student Readiness. Journal of e-Learning, 2 (2), 16-25.
[16] Latih, H., & Vasugiammai, M. (2011). Technology integrated teaching in Malaysian schools: GIS, a SWOT analysis. World Journal of Educational Technology, 3 (2), 64-74
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[18] Fargher, M. (2012). United Kingdom: Realizing the potential for GIS in the school geography curriculum. In Milson A.J, Demirci. A & Kerski. J (Eds.), International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with GIS in Secondary Schools. ( pp. 299-304 ).
[19] Vasugiammai, M. (2005). GIS in Malaysian School : GIS Application in Local Studies. (Master’s thesis), University Sains Malaysia. Penang. Malaysia.
[20] Umah Devi, R. (2008). Open source GIS in Teaching and Learning Geography in Schools. (Masters’ thesis), University Sains Malaysia. Penang. Malaysia.
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[25] West, B. A. (2003). Student attitudes and the impact of GIS on thinking skills and motivation. Journal of Geography, 102 (6), 267-274.
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[28] Sharifah Norsana. (2006). Geography education in pre university level in Malaysia. In A. Hamid (Ed.), Geographic Education Issuess in Malaysia. Tanjung Malim: UPSI Publisher
[29] Demirci, A., & Karaburun, A. (2009). How to make GIS a common educational tool in schools: Potentials and implications of the GIS for teachers book for geography education in Turkey. Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences, 2(2), 205-215.
[30] Malaysia Ministry of Education. (2004). Smart School Pilot Project Information. Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://www.moe.edu.my/bestraiNET/bestarinet2004.htm
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[32] Eksteen, S., Pretorius, E., & Breetzke, G. (2012). South Africa: Teaching Geography with GIS Across Diverse Technological Contexts In J. M. Andrew, D. Ali & J. K. Joseph (Eds.), International Perspectives On Teaching And Learning with GIS In Secondary School (pp. 225-232). London: Springer.
[33] Singh, S. S. B., Kleeman, G., & Van Bergen, P. (2012). Opportunities to Implement GIS in Teaching and Learning Geography: A Survey Among Smart Schools in Sabah, Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 69, 884-889.
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Author Information
  • School of Education and Social Development, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

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    Soon Singh Bikar Singh. (2013). Integrating Geography Information System in Teaching Geography in Malaysian Secondary Smart Schools. Education Journal, 2(4), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17

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    Soon Singh Bikar Singh. Integrating Geography Information System in Teaching Geography in Malaysian Secondary Smart Schools. Educ. J. 2013, 2(4), 149-154. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17

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    AMA Style

    Soon Singh Bikar Singh. Integrating Geography Information System in Teaching Geography in Malaysian Secondary Smart Schools. Educ J. 2013;2(4):149-154. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17,
      author = {Soon Singh Bikar Singh},
      title = {Integrating Geography Information System in Teaching Geography in Malaysian Secondary Smart Schools},
      journal = {Education Journal},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {149-154},
      doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20130204.17},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20130204.17},
      abstract = {In 1996, Malaysia initiated a plan to make the country the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub of the region. To facilitate this, the government established the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) plan; this initiative is based on a belief that there will be growing demand for a computer-literate work force, as well as for professionals in ICT. As part of this initiative, the Malaysian Government also established the Smart School System in 1999. The Smart School Programme emphasises the use of technology tools as an important aid in learning and teaching: computers are the main instruction (teaching) tool. Significantly, the integration of ICT in teaching has given greater priority to Science, Mathematics, and English. Therefore, Geography has become what students perceive as a ‘dry’ subject with little use of technology. Unlike in Malaysia, in developed countriesGeography receives more attention and has become a key subject at both the primary and secondary level; as a result, Geographic Information Systems(GIS)are widely accepted and integrated intothe secondary and primary schoolGeography curriculum. However, the integration of GIS in Geography education in Malaysia is still regarded as a myth,for reasons of lack of ability, human resources, ground facilities, and ICT provision. Thus, this article will discuss the potential to integrate GIS in a Malaysian Secondary Smart School, which is well known for being the most sophisticated and well-equipped with ICT in the country. A content analysis was performed based on articles from local and foreign pub-lications regarding the integration of GIS in Geography teaching. The content analyses, which include articles, theses and conference papers, discuss the opportunities to integrate GIS in teaching Geography. The analysis showsthat Secondary Smart Schools in Malaysia have adequate ICT facilities and well-trained human resourcesfor GIS. Thus, a plan for integrating GIS in Geography education is not a myth and will become a reality if the Malaysia Ministry of Education is ready to implement it.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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